Biopic of Iconic Supermodel Becomes 2013’s Number One Original Cable Movie Premiere across Key Demographics

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 1, 2013) – Anna Nicole Smith proves again to be larger than life. Saturday’s world premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie Anna Nicole (#AnnaNicole), telling the rags-to-riches story of the iconic supermodel who captured the world’s attention with her beauty and unconventional lifestyle, averaged 3.3 million Total Viewers, a 57% jump vs. the network’s 2013 year-to-date original movie average and its most watched original movie since November. The film also performed well across all key demographics, becoming this year’s number one original cable movie premiere among Adults 25-54 (1.6 million), Adults 18-49 (1.4 million), Women 25-54 (1.2 million) and Women 18-49 (1.1 million) – representing a Lifetime best in the four demos since Steel Magnolias last October. Anna Nicole secured a 2.6 Household rating, according to Nielsen Research.

In social media, Anna Nicole was Saturday night’s number one most buzzed about program, driving in an 11% share of TV buzz, according to Bluefin.

Lifetime will encore Anna Nicole tonight at 8:00pm ET/PT.

The movie, exploring the sordid details that created Anna Nicole Smith’s Infamous persona -- from stardom to untimely death -- stars Agnes Bruckner as the cultural icon, Academy Award® and Golden Globe®-winner Martin Landau, Oscar nominee Virginia Madsen, Adam Goldberg and Cary Elwes, is from executive producers Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and Judith Verno. Directed by Mary Harron and written by John Rice and Joe Batteer, Anna Nicole is from Sony Pictures Television.

Anna Nicole follows the swift rise and fall of Vickie Lynn Hogan (Bruckner), a Texas high school dropout and single mother with dreams of a better life. Realizing the power of her beauty, Vickie accepts a job as a dancer at topless bar, where she changes her name to Anna Nicole Smith and first makes her mark. With a new persona and a shocking marriage to octogenarian millionaire J. Howard Marshall (Landau), Anna’s career blasts off when Playboy features her in a pictorial spread that evokes comparisons to Marilyn Monroe. But after her husband’s death, Anna’s financial support ends and her hard-partying ways, excessive drinking, drastic weight fluctuation and endless pill-popping take their toll, inevitably setting the stage for the fading starlet’s tragic descent.

Hungry for celebrity, Anna launches her own hit reality show and soon gives birth to her daughter. But her newfound happiness and positive outlook on life is shattered when her son dies of an overdose while visiting his mother and newborn sister in the hospital. Unable to overcome the devastation over his death, in a tragic twist less than one year later, Anna herself dies of a fatal combination of pills, adding her name to a long list of icons who have succumbed to the temptations of fame. Madsen portrays Anna’s mother Virgie, Goldberg is Anna’s lawyer, Howard K. Stern; Elwes plays Marshall’s son, E. Pierce; and Graham Patrick Martin stars as Anna Nicole’s son, Daniel.

Anna Nicole is executive produced by Verno’s Peace Out Productions and Zadan and Meron’s Storyline Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television.

I had low expectations coming into it because this is Lifetime we’re talking about, but it was a solid interpretation of the late Anna Nicole. The actress really did her homework and studied her characteristics and mannerisms very well. She nailed her accent and baby doll voice!

Kissan

I liked the movie but I thought it was a bit rushed especially at the end. The actress did really good though.

Melanie P.

I enjoyed the movie and thought the actors were really great in their roles. So sad how Anna Nicole and her son died.